Lionel Messi has revealed how he 'wanted to leave' Barcelona in 2016 due to the scrutiny on him amid a tax row with the Spanish government.
Messi is the finest player in LaLiga and league chief Javier Tebas has previously admitted he was left 'scared' at the idea the Argentine could leave.
Speaking to radio station RAC1, Messi explained how along with his father Jorge he felt he was being 'mistreated'.
The pair were found guilty of tax fraud and handed a 21-month suspended prison sentence.
'At that time, with the mess of the treasury, I wanted to leave, not for wanting to leave Barca but wanting to leave Spain,' Messi told RAC1.
'I felt that I was being very mistreated and I didn't want to stay here. I never had an official offer because everyone knew my idea to stay here.
'It was very difficult for me and my family because people don't know much about what's going on.
'The truth is that it was hard for everything that happened but it is better that my children were small and did not know. It was very difficult for me and my family because people don't know much about what's going on.'
The case found that Messi, along with Jorge, was guilty of defrauding the Spanish government of €4.1m (£3.6m) between 2007 and 2009.
A ruling found them guilty of using tax havens in Belize and Uruguay to conceal earnings from image rights, leading Messi to contemplate his footballing future in the country.
Messi subsequently appealed the verdict in 2017 and it was rejected by Spain's Supreme Court - instead, it was changed to a £223,000 fine. Jorge's sentence was also reduced from a 15-month sentence to a €180,000 (£161,000) fine.
Since his feelings of leaving Spain and Barcelona, Messi has remained at the club and now looks destined to finish his career as a one-club man.
He added: 'First because of how I am in the club, how I feel in the club, then because of the familiar, for how good we are in this city, for my children, for not changing my friendships and I don't want it broken because I had to live it on my personal level.'
Morry256
704
He missed a penalty in the Copa America final with Argentina... then he discovered there was no Wi-Fi hotspot outside Barcelona😂😂😂
bruynaldo20
600
If Messi Complains Then You Know It Was A Really Very Serious Issue...Spanish Government Want to Make Money on Footballers...That Was The Main Reason Ronaldo Left In the First Place... If Messi Had Left I Would Have Given Him A Big Hand Of Applause...Little Do they know ..They Benefit More than Just A 3,4m from Messi Every Year Just From The Media...
sufyrumu
520
And then he dribbled past tax problems like he always does against defenders on the pitch.
MusaMessiSow
402
lady's an Gentlemen I represent you the most humblest man in the world Mr Lionel Andre's Messi
Adetunji01
368
I don't think it's Barcelona that is keeping Messi... The whole league is keeping him... Messi is more of laliga himself
tatadkz
191
in leo messi case he is a man of few words ,but when he speaks the whole world listens
jaazibshah
142
Messi is world class player. For some or let's say most players he is the ultimate goat and king. Now that someone like Ronaldo is here it is hard to match the both in their areas because they are so unique and can not be compared. I think that If Lionel Messi played For Some other team Before coming to Barcelona it would've been better ....
DisabledMonkey
9
Crazzzzy
8
He missed a penalty in the Copa America final with Argentina... then he discovered there was no Wi-Fi hotspot outside Barcelona😂😂😂
outside barca individually Messi have U20 Golden ball 2005, Olympic best player 2008, Golden ball 2014 world cup, Copa America Golden ball 2015, Copa America Golden ball 2016. what does Cr7 hve international individually does he even won best player in any world cup tournament n talking about wi-fi outside barca 1st give wifi to cr7 to win any best player in national tournament